Renal Microanatomy Flashcards
What are mesangial cells and where do they lie?
In between the capillaries of the vascular tuft
They have properties of immune and smooth muscle cells as well as providing structural support
The filtrate must pass through what three layers?
Fenestrated capillary endothelium
Glomerular basement membrane (basal lamina)
Through the filtration slits between pedicels of podocytes
What is the charge of the basement membrane, why does it have this charge?
-ve so it has a lower permeability for the -ve anions
What adaptations does the proximal tubule have bulk transport?
Brush border, basal striation, interdigitation of basal processes.
What is basal striation?
Infolding of the basal cell membrane to increase SA
It contains abundant Na/K ATPase and mitochondria to supply the ATP
Animals that have a greater proportion of juxtamedullar nephrons are better at….
Conserving water
What is the purpose of the convoluted segment in the distal tubule? Does it have a brush border/basal striation?
Ion transfer
No brush border but basal striation
What cells secrete renin in the kidney?
Juxtaglomerular cells
What is the macula densa?
Cells in the wall of the distal convoluted tubule that sit next to the glomerulus
Where is the collecting duct?
In the inner medulla
Each individual collecting duct coalesces to what?
A duct which opens into the renal papilla
On histology of the collecting duct what are the light and dark cells?
Light cells: Cells with ADH regulated water channels
Dark cells: Alpha intercalated cells which secrete H+ and beta intercalated cells which secrete HCO3- and regulate pH
What parts of the nephron sit in the outer medulla?
PT, Thin ascending loop, collecting ducts, vasa recta
What parts of the nephron sit in the inner medulla?
Collecting duct, thin tubules and the vasa recta
What does the equine renal pelvis contain?
Contains mucous glands and so does the proximal ureter (uretericae glands)
